Monday, February 11, 2019

Anna's Hummingbirds Winter in the North
Most hummingbirds retreat south in autumn, but Anna's Hummingbirds are
found in northern latitudes throughout the year. Since 1960, they've
moved their year-round limit north from California to British Columbia.
They're taking advantage of flowering plants and shrubs, as well as
hummingbird feeders. But how do they survive the northern cold? They
suspend their high rate of metabolism by entering a state of torpor – a
sort of nightly hibernation, where heart rate and body temperature are
reduced to a bare minimum. Many hummingbirds, including those in the
high Andes, rely on the same strategy. (BirdNote) See also: The Hummingbird as Warrior: Evolution of a Fierce and Furious Beak James Gorman reports. (NY Times)

More fishers released in North Cascades
Another six fishers scurried into the forest Wednesday near the base of
the North Cascades east of Darrington after being released from wooden
crates. The release brings the total number of fishers — carnivores
related to weasels — released into the North Cascades region to 24 since
the first group bounded into the woods near Newhalem on Dec. 5.
Fourteen females and 10 males are now settling into area forests. The
fishers were brought from Alberta, Canada, with help from the Calgary
Zoo and were surgically implanted with radio transmitters to keep
wildlife biologists apprised of their whereabouts. Kimberly Cauvel
reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

Whidbey Island resident files lawsuit over water contamination
An Oak Harbor resident who says her well was contaminated with chemicals
from firefighting foam used at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island has
filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court. The lawsuit accuses five
companies involved in the manufacture, marketing, sales and delivery of
the firefighting foam of knowingly putting the water — and therefore the
environment and public health — at risk in areas around NAS Whidbey
Island and hundreds of other military bases.... The lawsuit was filed
Tuesday as a class action lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Seattle.
Kimberly Cauvel reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

Court Appeal Filed to Protect Puget Sound
NWEA [Northwest Environmental Advocates] sued the Washington Department
of Ecology in Thurston County Superior Court today [2/8] in its bid to
modernize pollution removal at Puget Sound sewage treatment plants. The
appeal challenges Ecology’s January refusal to update its rules that
allow dischargers to use 100-year-old pollution control technology while
Puget Sound faces emergency levels of toxic and nutrient pollution.
(NWEA News Release)Long cleanup expected as crews work to fix Horseshoe Bay marina
Crews are busy cleaning up in West Vancouver, B.C., after severe winds
tore through a marina on Saturday and sunk a barge. The Sewell's Marina
in Horseshoe Bay is littered with debris and is being monitored for
pollution. Some residents are calling the damage catastrophic....On
Saturday, winds blew up to 90 km/h across the Howe Sound. Large waves
crashed into Sewell's Marina, sinking an entire barge. Equipment and
heavy machinery, including a forklift, tumbled into the water. (CBC)

Wind turbines to be running this year on Thurston county line
The energy company behind the 38-turbine wind energy project along the
Lewis-Thurston county line is nearing the construction phase as the
environmental permitting process wraps up. “As long as we can get the
(final environmental impact statement) on the street, published by
mid-next week, I think we’ll be OK,” said Sean Bell, senior development
manager with RES-Americas. Bell said construction on the Skookumchuck
Wind Energy Project is slated to begin in April, with the turbines up
and running at the end of December. Those timelines remain on track,
despite some frustrations with the permitting process. Alex Brown
reports. (Centralia Chronicle)

Global insect decline may see 'plague of pests'
A scientific review of insect numbers suggests that 40% of species are
undergoing "dramatic rates of decline" around the world. The study says
that bees, ants and beetles are disappearing eight times faster than
mammals, birds or reptiles. But researchers say that some species, such
as houseflies and cockroaches, are likely to boom. The general insect
decline is being caused by intensive agriculture, pesticides and climate
change. Matt McGrath reports. (BBC)

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Salish Sea Communications provides communications and public relations services that raise visibility and engage audiences. Drawing on over 30 years experience in private, public and not-for-profit work, Mike Sato brings to you his skills and insights in developing and carrying out your print, electronic and social media projects and products. "I've been in the communications business since 1977 starting with community weekly newspapers then working for Seattle City Light, the Puget Sound Water Quality Authority, Hawaiian Electric Company and, for 20 years, People For Puget Sound." Salish Sea Communications: Truth Well Told. WA State UBI #601395482